Illustrator Memory problems when using multiple applications!
Go to Page...
Get advice to help you create your t-shirt graphics. Discuss t-shirt design software, special effect techniques, or other topics related to creating a t-shirt design on your computer. If you'd rather hire a graphic designer to do the work for you, please post in our Referrals and Recommendations section here.
[Illustrator] - Memory problems when using multiple applications!
Hi, I was just wondering if anyone experiences any problems with memory when using graphics software? It affects me more when using complex designs in Illustrator, (lots of effects or just brushstrokes). Sometimes my work wont even save as it says not enough memory, then it turns it to black and white and says, cannot finish previewing as there is not enough memory, or the image is too complex!!
Now when I run several things at the same time, eg, photoshop, illustrator, dreamweaver, I have started to get more problems when I try to edit in flash! It says not enough memory to open the application? I also find that saving when I listen to my windows media player, seems to take an age, and I end up switching it off!
I have a Dell, Dimension 9150, Pentium 4 with 2gb of ram! I have recently added 1GB, and it seems to have made little difference. It is a windows microsoft XP with service pack 2.
Do I need more memory, or do I need a better graphics card?? Thanks!
Re: Memory problems when using multiple applications!
I would say your memory is ok yet more never hurts. possible you need a faster graphics card. I have a Dell with 1.5 gigs of RAM and have no issues with Photoshop, Corel, Acrobat professional, Email, and multiple websites open at one time.
Have you cleaned your system lately? Defrag, removed all temp files, cookies, etc. Also have you customized your start up to stop unwanted progs from soaking up resources that your not using?
Good advice is to get an external hard drive for all your files, keep your c: drive clean of all files other than program files will help as well. I purchased an 8 gig external from Dell a year or two ago. Great lilttle addition.
Re: Memory problems when using multiple applications!
I'm not exactly sure of how complicated / heavy your files are, but you should never be running that many applications at one time, especially graphic ones. From what I can gather your running Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash, Dreamweaver, Media Player/Music, and probably your internet browser. Just having all of those open without editing files will use up a large majority of your memory. Try only having two or three (at most) open while editing average files. If your editing some serious graphics just have that single application open.
When you’re editing files and your system starts to slow down hit CTRL-ALT-Delete and look at your "Process". You will be able to see where all of your memory is being used.
Photoshop is a memory hog; the newer versions have a "Purge" function to rid the program of memory being used for various things. I have found that it doesn’t actually do anything. The best way to dump the memory being used by photoshop is to close the program and just re-open it. Otherwise you can have anywhere from 120 megs to gigs of memory being tied up.
Your media player programs are a pretty big memory hog as well, if you have your music going, just try and have one graphics program open with it.
Illustrator isn’t so bad, but will use a few hundred megs. If you’re editing some seriously complicated files it will obviously use more, and tax your processor, same for flash.
All in all, just keep fewer programs open and keep an eye on your "Process" in the CTR-ALT-Delete.
Here are some links for optimizing memory usage in photoshop:
Re: Memory problems when using multiple applications!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fluid
I would say your memory is ok yet more never hurts. possible you need a faster graphics card. I have a Dell with 1.5 gigs of RAM and have no issues with Photoshop, Corel, Acrobat professional, Email, and multiple websites open at one time.
Have you cleaned your system lately? Defrag, removed all temp files, cookies, etc. Also have you customized your start up to stop unwanted progs from
soaking up resources that your not using?
Good advice is to get an external hard drive for all your files, keep your c: drive clean of all files other than program files will help as well. I purchased an 8 gig external from Dell a year or two ago. Great lilttle addition.
True, try running a dfrag and also checking for viruses and spyware/trojan horses. External drives are also cheaper than ever, you can get a couple hundred gigs for a little over a hundred bucks these days if you do some shopping around.
If you have a ton of fonts loaded on your box, you might want to look into a font management program so you can turn them on and off. If you have tons of fonts loaded it can also bog down the program.
Re: Memory problems when using multiple applications!
remember that windows xp needs i belive 512 mb ram just to run correctly. If you have any anitvirus software turn it and any othe unneeded progs off while using illustrator. THis will help your computer render the effects and filters much faster . . .
Re: Memory problems when using multiple applications!
seems like you dont have enough memory on your computer. Getting more memory or closing out a few applications can eliminate freezing your computer. Illustrator and Photoshops are the two biggest memory hoggers. If you are going to be doing a lot of graphics I suggest investing in a MAC.
Re: Memory problems when using multiple applications!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Blacksheep 78
I feel a MAC / PC debate coming on...
Lol, want to start one?
Far to long ago for me I last worked on a Mac... like eight years ago or I think, last version I worked with was 8.something-like-that! But will never forget how flawless it did run graphic applications in that time compared to a Windows/IBM compatible system! So desperataly stuck with that
Re: Memory problems when using multiple applications!
I had somewhat of the same issues . . it only happened after updating IE 7 and windows xp service pack 2 . . . after a few weeks of being peeved . . I did a system restore . . POOF problem gone . . .
DID you update IE7 and install windows xp service pack 2?
Re: Memory problems when using multiple applications!
I don't know about Illustrator for PC, but check to see if you have a "Scratch" disk option in your preferences, plug-ins & scratch disk.
They use a lot of memory, and if you don't have a certain % available on your HD you'll get problems saving your work, set your scratch disk. Some people partition their drive and use part of it just for a scratch disk.
My old PowerBook kept running out of memory after installing the beta Photoshop CS3, it took all my memory, and I couldn't save any work. I had to delete some programs I wasn't using, but I still didn't have enough room. An external firewire drive helped with that, but I think it's faster if it's an internal drive, so partitioning it would be better, if you have the space for it.
As for opening several programs at one time, I think you need more sdram? I have 1.5gb sdram with 5+programs open at any given time, plus the OS programs and some other tools.
oh...you'll need to restart Illustrator after changing the scratch disk settings, otherwise it won't stick.
Last edited by oKawa; April 30th, 2007 at 11:54 PM.
Re: Memory problems when using multiple applications!
Thanks to everyone for the advice!!! I can see there are several options which I need to address! For a start, I think I do have too many programmes running at the same time, but sometimes I do think it is necessary! I have found quite a useful forum dedicated to Illustrator issues and I do believe I am not the only one with this problem regarding memory! It has been said that fonts can be a problem, but also (for IllustartorCS2) ditching the preferences file, as this can be corrupted!
As for the pc versus Mac debate, I used one at Uni, and I still dont know how to use one properly! It is so different to a pc, I dont think I would ever get the hang of it. Shame, cos I think you are right in saying mac is better for graphics, but I just wont change now!
Re: Memory problems when using multiple applications!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fluid
I would say your memory is ok yet more never hurts. possible you need a faster graphics card. I have a Dell with 1.5 gigs of RAM and have no issues with Photoshop, Corel, Acrobat professional, Email, and multiple websites open at one time.
Have you cleaned your system lately? Defrag, removed all temp files, cookies, etc. Also have you customized your start up to stop unwanted progs from soaking up resources that your not using?
Good advice is to get an external hard drive for all your files, keep your c: drive clean of all files other than program files will help as well. I purchased an 8 gig external from Dell a year or two ago. Great lilttle addition.
Yes, I have tried a de-frag. Also got rid of all my temporary files etc! I have noticed when pressing ctr alt & delete and looking at how much stuff is running in the background, I am suprised! There seems to be all sorts which I don't even know what some of them are! (some programmes needed to run comp, like waol exe 84,060k, aolsoftwareexe 30,068k windows exe, etc, but some I don't even know what they are doing!!!
I think you may be right in getting an external drive. I did read somewhere that not using all memory resources from your c drive is beneficial, So I will look into an external drive, thanks.
Memory problems when using multiple applications! 
Re: Memory problems when using multiple applications! 
